Data Due Early Next Year, Says AIIMS Chief On Covid Booster Shot

India can take a call on booster shot only after data indicates that the COVID-19 vaccine has reached a "waning point", AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria said.

India does not have enough data right now on the need for a third COVID-19 vaccine shot, called a booster shot, to increase protection against the coronavirus and more information is likely to be available by early next year, All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) director Dr Randeep Guleria said today. Even as several countries, including the US, UK and Israel, are planning on administering booster shots to fight the coronavirus after different studies showed that a third dose of their vaccines led to higher levels of protective antibodies, Dr Guleria said the data in India does not indicate that boosters are needed at present. "I don't think we have enough data right now to say that a booster shot is needed. Even for elderly and high-risk groups, we do not have enough data. We really need to have data that gives us an idea of the protection levels the vaccines provide," he said. He said further research is needed and it will take some more months. "Information is still emerging... it will take some more months. Possibly by beginning of next year, we will have data on what will be the type of booster shots and who needs it," the AIIMS chief said.